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William

Novice Mystic
Jun 9, 2021
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Te Waipounamu
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Worldview

We Exist Within A Creation [WEWAC]

"The Bridging Natural Philosophy" serves as a conceptual bridge, spanning the philosophical chasm that separates Supernaturalist and Materialist ideologies and seeks to offer a way in which to reconcile these two contrasting positions.

"The Bridging Natural Philosophy" rejects both the notion of emergent consciousness arising solely through mindless processes and the concept of a creator mind operating outside of the natural universe. This philosophy stands as a deliberate departure from Reductionist and Metaphysical explanations that attribute consciousness solely to mechanistic forces on the one hand and the superimposed divine or supernatural agency on the other, emphasizing instead - a holistic perspective that recognizes the conceptual integration of mind and matter in understanding that these are not different entities but aspects of the one entity. By refusing to confine itself to either extreme, The Bridging Natural Philosophy adopts an expansive perspective that embraces the complexities of the subject matter, for a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of the universe and the human experience within it.

Q: Is such a Bridging Natural Philosophy necessary or should we accept the traditional warring philosophies as the only ones which matter/have relevance?
 
This Natural Philosophy and The Universal Mind

1. Supernaturalism and Its Issues:
• Supernaturalism leads to problems of infinite regression and the problem of evil.
• The belief in an all-benevolent, all-knowing, and all-powerful moral source creates these philosophical problems.

2. This Natural Philosophy's Perspective:
• This Natural Philosophy asserts the existence of the Universal Mind, which is physical and has always existed.
• This Universal Mind can organize matter into functional objects.
• Matter is an integral aspect of the Universal Mind, not a separate entity.

3. Purposeful and Developmental Universe:
• This Natural Philosophy posits that the Universal Mind is purposeful and intentional.
• The universe is in a constant state of development, and the current human experience represents an early stage of this universal development.

4. The Role of ITA (Intentional Thinking Agent):
• ITA, or the intentional thinking agent, within the human instrument, is not meant to be permanently contained within the instrument.
• Instead, it utilizes the human instrument as part of the ongoing process of personality development.
• ITAs are not created by the Universal Mind but are an expression or investment of the Universal Mind into various forms, making them "children" of the Universal Mind across different entities, from the smallest objects to the largest.

Additionally.
1. Death as Natural and Reasonable:
• In This Natural Philosophy, the death of form is considered a natural and reasonable aspect of the overall purpose of personality development.
• It is not seen as the result of sin or punishment.
2. Absence of Inherent Good or Evil:
• This Natural Philosophy holds that there is no inherent or fundamental good or evil in the Universal Mind.
• Good and evil are concepts formed through human experience and can be either useful or detrimental depending on how individuals respond within their unique and interdependent situations and the choices they make.
3. Everything Originates from Within:
• From the viewpoint of Natural Philosophy, everything originates from within the Universal Mind, and there is no "external" reality.
• All aspects of existence are considered physical, and the concept of "non-physical" does not exist, contrary to materialism or supernaturalism beliefs.
4. The Bedrock Particle and Quantum Field:
• In this Natural Philosophy, the fundamental substance is the "Bedrock Particle," which can be compared to the concept of a single particle of matter.
• While there may be an infinite number of these particles, they are fundamentally one entity, representing unorganized matter.
• The organization of this Bedrock Particle occurs when two identical particles combine to form something else.
5. The Dynamic Physical Universe:
• Given enough time and space, the result is what we refer to as the "physical universe," composed of various organized and functional forms.
• These forms are not static but are in a constant state of change and development.
6. Diverse Constitutions of Forms:
• The universe's fundamental substance remains the Bedrock Particle, but the forms created exhibit different constitutions or mixtures of elements at atomic levels, which align with the principles of human physics.
Additionally.
7. A Naturalist and Agnostic Perspective:
• This Natural Philosophy takes a naturalist stance, but it also maintains an agnostic approach to philosophical questions, avoiding taking sides between materialism and supernaturalism.
• Bridging Differences Without Alienation:
8. The goal of this Natural Philosophy is to bridge the age-old battle between Materialism and Supernaturalism.
• The intention is not to alienate either side but to foster open dialogue and exploration of alternative ideas.
9. Open-Minded Exploration:
• This approach prioritizes the exploration of alternative ideas and does not have a preconceived outcome in mind.
• This open-minded perspective allows for a more inclusive and comprehensive discussion that considers a wide range of possibilities.
10. No Necessity for Traditional Supernatural Concepts:
• The Natural Philosophy you are developing does not require the traditional understanding of a supernatural God or Gods.
11. Addressing the Hard Problem of Consciousness:
• This Natural Philosophy acknowledges the "hard problem of consciousness," which concerns the existence of qualia, phenomenal consciousness, or subjective experiences in humans and other organisms.
• It explores the possibility of consciousness existing outside the frameworks of both materialist and supernaturalist philosophies.

Additionally.
12. Consciousness as Inherent and Mindful:
• This hypothesis suggests that since all organized matter starts from an unorganized state, consciousness, being part of organized matter, is also an aspect of the unorganized state.
• This consciousness is seen as a mindful force rather than a result of accidental processes.
13. Universal Mind (UM) and Consciousness:
• This Natural Philosophy posits that the Universal Mind (UM) is intrinsic to nature and is considered a natural aspect of the universe.
• It challenges the necessity of labeling the UM as "super" natural and argues for its alignment with natural principles.
14. Qualia and Human Experience:
• This Natural Philosophy asserts that individuals, including humans, are consciousness itself rather than something else experiencing consciousness.
• Qualia, the subjective experiences of sight, hearing, taste, touch, or smell, are a result of the interaction between consciousness and the human instrument or form.
15. Religious Beliefs and the Supernatural:
• This Natural Philosophy notes that many religious writings, like those found in the Bible, may not explicitly describe the divine as "supernatural."
• This Natural Philosophy challenges the conventional understanding of the supernatural in religious contexts, suggesting that the divine or Universal Mind can be viewed as natural within this framework.
16. Planet's Indirect Cause of UM:
• In this Natural Philosophy, the existence of the planet is considered an indirect cause of the Universal Mind (UM).
• It is not seen as a primary or accidental occurrence but rather one of the ways through which the UM can experience organized matter.
17. Purpose and Individual "Why":
• The question of "why" regarding the existence of the planet is not central to This Natural Philosophy.
• If a UM exists, it has a purpose, and the question of "why" is left to individuals to explore and may not necessarily require a collective agreement.
18. Alternate Experiences and Eternal Minds:
• This Natural Philosophy explains why human personalities can have alternate experiences, such as Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and Out-of-Body Experiences (OOBEs).
• It's based on the premise that all minds, regardless of their form (e.g., Galaxy, Star, Planet, Biological), are eternal and from the same source, the UM.
• While a human instrument is temporal, the mind occupying it and the resulting personality are not.
19. Differing Aspects of Mindfulness:
• This Natural Philosophy considers the various aspects of mindfulness that can be experienced.
• In humans, mindfulness experiences are unique to individual personalities and contribute to their development.
• The relationship between mindfulness in different forms, like acromyrmex (ants) and mycelium (fungi), is viewed as more fluid and group-minded, influenced by the design of the form.
20. Complexity and Variety of Organized Matter:
• This Natural Philosophy emphasizes that the UM's ability to experience organized matter in various forms is not a disadvantage but a testament to the complexity and diversity inherent in the UM's nature.

Additionally.
21. Focus on What Is:
• This Natural Philosophy is centered on understanding and explaining the existing reality rather than speculating about what might have been or could have been.
22. Eternal Minds and Alternate Experiences:
• This Natural Philosophy posits that all minds, whether associated with galaxies, stars, planets, or biological entities, originate from the same source, the Universal Mind (UM).
• These minds are considered eternal, not supernaturally, but as a natural part of the UM's existence.
• Human personalities are viewed as growing and evolving, dependent on mindfulness and memory.
• Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and Out-of-Body Experiences (OOBEs):
• This Natural Philosophy provides an explanation for why individuals have alternate experiences during events like NDEs and OOBEs.
• These experiences are linked to the eternal nature of the mind and its interaction with the temporary human instrument.
• Reports of individuals remembering forgotten details and experiencing other people's points of view are considered within this framework.
23. Expanded Consciousness Experiences:
• This Natural Philosophy acknowledges reports of individuals experiencing an expanded consciousness, where their sense of self extends beyond the physical body and merges with the surrounding environment.
• These experiences challenge a purely materialistic view of memory and consciousness and align with the hypothesis of the Universal Mind.

Additionally.
24. God as Mindful Elemental:
• In this Natural Philosophy, "God" is conceptualized as a mindful elemental that existed in a timeless state without organized matter.
• Sound or frequency plays a role in organizing matter into functional forms.
25. Unorganized Matter and Mindfulness:
• This Natural Philosophy posits that unorganized matter is mindful and has been eternal.
• It rejects the idea of spontaneous accidents as explanations for the organization of matter and instead offers mindfulness as a reason.
26. Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness:
• By incorporating mindfulness into the "undifferentiated sea of energy," this Natural Philosophy solves the hard problem of consciousness.
• It eliminates the need for a "supernatural" element to explain the existence of our universe.
27. Mind as Material and Real:
• This Natural Philosophy regards the mind as material, though current science may not detect its physical nature except when interacting with detectable physical objects like brains.
• It rejects the notion that the mind is a magical or immaterial concept.
28. Handling Qualia and the Hard Problem:
• This Natural Philosophy addresses the problem of Qualia by incorporating the hypothesis of the Universal Mind.
• It offers a solution to the hard problem of consciousness by including mindfulness as an attribute of fundamental matter.
29. Combining Solutions to Philosophical Problems:
• This Natural Philosophy combines solutions to the problems of why consciousness exists and the problem of infinite regress.
• It removes the supernatural aspect of "God" and places it within the context of nature, linking it to mindfulness.

Additionally.
Rejection of Non-Material Existence:
• This Natural Philosophy asserts that there is no such thing as "non-material," including the mind.
• It posits that everything, including the mind, is fundamentally material in nature.
Material Nature of the Universal Mind (UM):
• Natural Philosophy contends that the UM must be made of matter to explain how it organizes matter into functional objects.
• Frequency or vibrations are considered as essential components in the process of how the UM causes unorganized matter to organize.

Natural Explanations for All Phenomena:
• This Natural Philosophy rejects supernatural explanations and maintains that all phenomena can be explained naturally, adhering to the principle of natural causation.
Unity of Minds and Universal Mind:
• Natural Philosophy posits that the Universal Mind is intimately related to and the source of all other forms of mindfulness inhabiting functional forms.
• Other mindful entities are seen as expressions of the Universal Mind within the context of their unique experiences in functional formations.

Rejection of Non-Physical Causes:
• This Natural Philosophy challenges the idea that minds are non-physical properties of brains and, by extension, rejects the notion that non-physical causes lead to physical outcomes.
• It views such ideas as a form of supernaturalism, contrasting with the principles of this Natural Philosophy.

Unique Position:
• This Natural Philosophy is distinct from both materialism and supernaturalism, offering its own perspective that embraces a fundamental material nature for all things.
• It asserts that "non-things" do not exist within its framework.
• Natural Philosophy
• Supernaturalism and Materialism have Problems:
• Natural Philosophy's Perspective solves those problems:
• Purposeful and Developmental Universe:
• The Role of ITA (Intentional Thinking Agent):
• Death of form as Natural and Reasonable:
• Absence of Inherent Good or Evil:
• Everything Originates from Within:
• The Bedrock Particle and Quantum Field:
• The Dynamic Physical Universe:
• Diverse Constitutions of Forms:
• A Naturalist and Agnostic Perspective:
• The goal of this Natural Philosophy is to bridge the age-old battle between Materialism and Supernaturalism.

Open-Minded Exploration:
• No Necessity for Traditional Supernatural Concepts:
• Addressing the Hard Problem of Consciousness:
• Consciousness as Inherent and Mindful:
• Universal Mind (UM) and Consciousness:
• Qualia and Human Experience:
• Religious Beliefs and the Supernatural:
• Planet's mind Caused by UM:
• Purpose and Individual experience:
• Alternate Experiences all minds are Eternal Minds:
• Differing Aspects of Mindfulness:
• Complexity and Variety of Organized Matter:
• Focus on What Is:
• Eternal Minds and Alternate Experiences:
• Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and Out-of-Body Experiences (OOBEs):
• Expanded Consciousness Experiences:
• God as Mindful Elemental:
• Unorganized Matter and Mindfulness:
• Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness:
• Mind as Material and Real:
• Handling Qualia and the Hard Problem:
• Combining Solutions to Philosophical Problems:
• Rejection of Non-Material Existence:
• Material Nature of the Universal Mind (UM):
• Natural Explanations for All Phenomena:
• Unity of Minds and Universal Mind:
• Rejection of Non-Physical Causes:
• Unique Position:

• This Natural Philosophy is a comprehensive and unique worldview that addresses various aspects of existence and consciousness. It challenges conventional notions of both supernaturalism and materialism while offering its own distinct perspective. Here is an overall summary based on the headings:

Summary of Natural Philosophy:

This Natural Philosophy presents a holistic perspective on existence, consciousness, and the nature of reality. It rejects supernaturalism and materialism in favor of its own worldview, which revolves around the concept of the Universal Mind (UM). According to this philosophy, the UM is physical, eternal, and the source of all consciousness and organized matter.

Key principles of This Natural Philosophy include:

Rejection of Supernaturalism:

Supernaturalism is criticized for leading to problems such as infinite regression and the problem of evil. Instead, This Natural Philosophy promotes a naturalistic approach that seeks to explain all phenomena through natural causation.

UM as the Source:
The Universal Mind is considered the fundamental source of all existence. It has the ability to organize unorganized matter into functional forms, and this organization involves the use of sound or frequency.

Purposeful Universe:
This philosophy posits that the universe is purposeful and in a constant state of development. Human experience is viewed as an early stage of this universal development.

Role of ITA: The Intentional Thinking Agent (ITA) within the human instrument is seen as a tool for personality development rather than a permanent entity confined to the instrument.

Death as Natural:
Death of form is regarded as a natural and reasonable part of personality development, not as a result of sin or punishment.

Absence of Inherent Good or Evil:
This Natural Philosophy rejects the notion of inherent good or evil in the Universal Mind. These concepts are viewed as human constructs shaped by individual responses and choices.

Everything Originates from Within:
There is no distinction between the "inside" and "outside" in this philosophy. Everything is considered physical, and the concept of the non-physical is discarded.

The Bedrock Particle and Quantum Field:
The universe is described as fundamentally composed of the Bedrock Particle, which forms organized matter through combinations and interactions.

Dynamic Universe:
The physical universe is dynamic and constantly changing, with various forms exhibiting different atomic compositions.

Naturalist and Agnostic Perspective:
This Natural Philosophy takes a naturalist stance while remaining agnostic in philosophical inquiries. It aims to bridge the gap between materialism and supernaturalism by fostering open-minded exploration and dialogue.

Addressing the Hard Problem of Consciousness:
This philosophy confronts the hard problem of consciousness by proposing that consciousness is an inherent aspect of the Universal Mind, rather than an emergent property or a result of supernatural elements.

Mind as Material and Real:
The mind is considered material within this philosophy, even if its physical nature is not yet fully understood by current science.

Handling Qualia and the Hard Problem:
Qualia and the hard problem of consciousness are addressed through the inclusion of the UM hypothesis, offering a naturalistic solution.

Rejection of Non-Material Existence:
This philosophy firmly rejects the idea of non-material existence, including the non-material mind.

Material Nature of the UM:
The Universal Mind is posited as a material entity that organizes matter.

Natural Explanations:
This philosophy advocates for natural explanations for all phenomena, dismissing supernatural explanations.

Unity of Minds:
All minds, regardless of their form, are believed to originate from the UM and are eternal.

Rejection of Non-Physical Causes:
This philosophy challenges the idea of non-physical causes leading to physical outcomes.

This Natural Philosophy presents a comprehensive framework that seeks to explain the nature of the universe, consciousness, and the interplay between the Universal Mind and individual experiences. It offers a fresh perspective that challenges traditional views while emphasizing natural explanations and open-minded exploration.
 
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Finally read entirely. I liked your overall approach of trying to bring in good points from both sides. I didn't see as much critiquing of both sides as I expected, but then I noticed that you took Occam's razor to both sides which is just as effective if you could give a reasonable explanation of various issues w/out needing to resort to materialism and supernaturalism.

I didn't agree with the parts about the Universe needing to be entirely physical, but I'm open to and agree with a lot of your other points.

I'm still trying to connect this to our discussion on another thread regarding a rational supernatural.

• All aspects of existence are considered physical, and the concept of "non-physical" does not exist, contrary to materialism or supernaturalism beliefs.
- a holistic perspective that recognizes the conceptual integration of mind and matter in understanding that these are not different entities but aspects of the one entity.

- This Natural Philosophy regards the mind as material, though current science may not detect its physical nature except when interacting with detectable physical objects like brains.
- Natural Philosophy contends that the UM must be made of matter to explain how it organizes matter into functional objects.
- This Natural Philosophy rejects supernatural explanations and maintains that all phenomena can be explained naturally, adhering to the principle of natural causation.
 
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I can't offer much in the way of expanding without you explaining why you disagree with this.
I'm looking at it from a validity standpoint. I think there are good reasons to accept that some phenomenon is non-physical, like consciousness. From the standpoint of Occam's razor, leaving it out is likely better than not. But again I was only disagreeing from the standpoint of validity, and I would have at least remained agnostic rather than ruling it out completely

Did you also leave out your simulation theory? I thought you would have bought that in and made a point about things appearing physical.
 
I think there are good reasons to accept that some phenomenon is non-physical, like consciousness.
Why do you think consciousness should be regarded as non-physical?
I once thought the same but had to take the idea off the table on account of it not being able to explain how a non material thing could possibly organize matter.

The easy answer is because matter and mind are the same thing.

Did you also leave out your simulation theory? I thought you would have bought that in and made a point about things appearing physical.
No.
Rather I understood how things can appear to be simulated because they effectively are - "in the mind" of the UM - that is the matter organized into functional form, which is able to be experienced as real, even that it is a temporal thing.
This is achieved through use of frequency.



• Sound or frequency plays a role in organizing matter into functional forms.

• Frequency or vibrations are considered as essential components in the process of how the UM causes unorganized matter to organize.

•The Universal Mind is considered the fundamental source of all existence. It has the ability to organize unorganized matter into functional forms, and this organization involves the use of sound or frequency.
 
Why do you think consciousness should be regarded as non-physical?
I once thought the same but had to take the idea off the table on account of it not being able to explain how a non material thing could possibly organize matter.

The easy answer is because matter and mind are the same thing.
I would not call materialism an "answer" for consciousness since there is no scientific theory for consciousness. The facts that materialism explains are just pieces to the puzzle which is too incomplete to tell us how or why the brain causes consciousness (hence why no scientific theory). Invoking materialism while having that knowledge-gap just makes materialism a god-of-the-gap type of explanation.

I can accept your view that mind is matter is an easier route to explore to get to an answer but there are no guarantees.

Did you also leave out your simulation theory? I thought you would have bought that in and made a point about things appearing physical.
No.
Rather I understood how things can appear to be simulated because they effectively are - "in the mind" of the UM - that is the matter organized into functional form, which is able to be experienced as real, even that it is a temporal thing.
This is achieved through use of frequency.
...
Got it. (y)
 
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I would not call materialism an "answer" for consciousness since there is no scientific theory for consciousness. The facts that materialism explains are just pieces to the puzzle which is too incomplete to tell us how or why the brain causes consciousness (hence why no scientific theory). Invoking materialism while having that knowledge-gap just makes materialism a god-of-the-gap type of explanation.
While the bridging philosophy accepts aspects of both Materialist and Theist points of view, it is not based on/in either.
To example, Materialist Philosophy believes in the emergence of consciousness as solely the product of brain activity, and rejects the notion of us existing within a mindfully created thing, so your characterization of the bridging philosophy as being "Materialistic" is telling me that you misunderstand.

I can accept your view that mind is matter is an easier route to explore to get to an answer but there are no guarantees.
This comment is based upon your misunderstanding.
And there are far more opportunities to glean answers from the material universe itself (at this point of its continuing unfolding development) whereas there is zero chance of getting information from any unnatural source.
In other words, by understanding the mind is a natural aspect of the matter/matter is a natural aspect of the mind there is no need to reach to some figurative place outside of the natural universe in order to "get answers" as all the answers are assessable within the whole framework of said unfolding universe being experienced.
Said another way, Materialists are mistaken that "God is Dead". What they are really referring to is that Supernaturalism is unrequired.

Supernaturalist Theists have yet to make that connection as well.
 
While the bridging philosophy accepts aspects of both Materialist and Theist points of view, it is not based on/in either.
To example, Materialist Philosophy believes in the emergence of consciousness as solely the product of brain activity, and rejects the notion of us existing within a mindfully created thing, so your characterization of the bridging philosophy as being "Materialistic" is telling me that you misunderstand.
I get what you're trying to do with your philosophy. It is not the mainstream version of materialism that atheists tend to use, but it still falls under materialism when it involves everything being physical. That is probably the confusion.

For the other point regarding mind and matter, I should've specified that I'm not limiting it to mainstream materialism. Either way, I don't question if consciousness is physical just because of the brain connection, it's also because of the nature of subjective experience itself. The latter point would be problematic for any physical explanation, whether it involves brain or not.

I'd hope to explore more of the strong parts of your view as we encounter different topics on the forum, here or elsewhere. My only critique is that some of what you think is an easier explanation will actually turn out to be difficult because you're limiting your options when it's not warranted. Saying that everything is physical now limits you to the physical. Although I'm not sure how your Univeral Mind concept would fare if you left it open-ended, as in not ascribing a nature to it or just remaining agnostic on that.
 
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My only critique is that some of what you think is an easier explanation will actually turn out to be difficult because you're limiting your options when it's not warranted. Saying that everything is physical now limits you to the physical. Although I'm not sure how your Univeral Mind concept would fare if you left it open-ended, as in not ascribing a nature to it or just remaining agnostic on that.

The overall point of that aspect of the bridging philosophy is that it explains the existence of consciousness and matter as one and the same thing, and it is eternal.
Organized matter (into functional forms) is simply a temporary outward impression of an inward process - a self contained process that clearly does not require anything outside of itself to explain itself or its goings on within its self.

You don't give an example of the options that would not be available to me re this bridging philosophy, so I cannot really say whether I agree or disagree and cannot critique something so vague/without context.